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Core Angling: Science and Fly Fishing Combined

[Update: Added a bunch of photos after the jump.] Patagonia Fly Fishing Marketer, Bill Klyn, shares his experience with a new kind of fly fishing trip. Core Angling offers world-class bonefishing in the Bahamas combined with the opportunity to help scientists study the fish and hopefully preserve their numbers for good. If you're an angler, or you know one, be sure and check out the fish-landing tips at the end of his story.

Bonefishing: Just the word elicits that memory of blistering sun, wading sand and marl flats of soothingly warm calf-high water, that smell of primordial ooze, while constantly searching for that tailing fish, nervous water or that dark shape that suddenly appears – usually at the last minute before spooking. That memorable cast that gently lays the fly close enough to see that exciting, accelerated grab, then the sound of the screaming reel during that zip code changing run that elevates both the heart rate and one’s soul. What can be better than that?

Having run into Bonefish Tarpon Unlimited’s Director Aaron Adams at the
Somerset Fly Fishing Show, he introduced me to Dave Peterson
representing a group called Core Angling. This new take on bonefishing
allows anglers to join scientists with the challenging job of catching
fish that become live “samples” for research to help fill the
significant gap in knowledge of bonefish spawning, predation and
habitat. With this taking place in the remote location of Eleuthera,
Bahamas, my only question was, "Where do I sign up?"

Gathering a group of reps from Patagonia – Mike Thompson, Mark Harbaugh
and Jason Lozano – we arrived in Eleuthera to be met by Dave Peterson
and the Director of Cape Eleuthera Institute, Andy Danylchuk. As it turns
out, Andy is the Lefty Kreh, the Babe Ruth of bonefish scientists in
the Bahamas.

Feeling like seven-year-olds, wading the flats took on a new
perspective of wonder and learning experience, even though it was
something our group had been involved in for many years. Andy and Dave,
like the patient fathers, readily fielded every question from our
thought-to-be-knowledgeable group. But when that first fish was caught
and out came the research equipment, our interest took a fundamental
shift from angling to research.

The process of studying recovery rates of fish was such: after
measurements and fin clips were taken, a freshwater hook with mono line
and bobber was attached to the dorsal fin. The freshwater hook would
rust-out rapidly if we could not retrieve the bobber. We could watch
that bobber for 20 minutes until the fish was totally recovered, or
shorter if shark or barracuda had the fish for lunch. What fly
fisherman had ever been interested in watching a bobber, unless
attached to a dead-drifting nymph, for 20 straight minutes? Well,
watching that bobber as it would head back with the school or beat fins
to deeper water, became a mesmerizing experience. Realizing the average
time an angler spent taking “a hero shot” – just a minute – the
recovery rates plunged, primarily to predation. Conversely, the less
time out of water, there was a higher percentage of recovery.

The other study we did was to place a fish in a live well for 20
minutes and the researcher would test the water every five minutes to
determine the chemical secretions of the fish. This helped
to determine what secreted chemicals excited the predators to target
the fish.

Finally, we were going to known areas that fish with transmitters were
frequenting. Dropping a portable receiver over the side of the boat to
listen for any “pinging,” we were able to catch up with Andy on what
the research was providing.

Heading to the Eleuthera Institute and seeing the many tanks and
testing facilities on bonefish and sharks, speaking to other
scientists, and hearing of impending studies for the future, instilled
an even greater interest to come back once again for the next round of
research.

Did I mention that the waters just off the Institute dropped to 1,000
feet a few miles from the harbor? And that dorado, sailfish, sharks and
other offshore species can easily be reached in a very shot run?

We found a way that was better than just fishing. Whether you're a
seasoned bonefish junkie or new salt water angler, I highly recommend
taking a trip with the Core Angling folks to enhance your experience.
Create a new memory and support further research by joining Core
Angling (866-207-1891) and the Cape Eleuthera Institute. Or if you want to do
something now to support saltwater flats research, check out Bonefish Tarpon Unlimited and the terrific work
they are doing.

Tips from our collective experience:

Release a fish in the water.

If the fish is still fighting with you, hold them upside down and they will stop for quick removal of the hook.

If you have to take a picture of a fish, have everything ready –
camera, glasses off, etc. Then wet your hands, pick up the fish and take the
picture in seconds (run around until you are exhausted, hold your breath, then figure out how long that is for you).

Do not use a lip-gripping device on a bonefish as their soft mouth and jaws have a great deal of trouble handling that much pressure.

Plan a trip with consideration of the new moon. This is when fish “disappear” in large numbers to spawn.

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Core Angling: Science and Fly Fishing Combined

[Update: Added a bunch of photos after the jump.] Patagonia Fly Fishing Marketer, Bill Klyn, shares his experience with a new kind of fly fishing trip. Core Angling offers world-class bonefishing in the Bahamas combined with the opportunity to help scientists study the fish and hopefully preserve their numbers for good. If you're an angler, or you know one, be sure and check out the fish-landing tips at the end of his story.

Bonefishing: Just the word elicits that memory of blistering sun, wading sand and marl flats of soothingly warm calf-high water, that smell of primordial ooze, while constantly searching for that tailing fish, nervous water or that dark shape that suddenly appears – usually at the last minute before spooking. That memorable cast that gently lays the fly close enough to see that exciting, accelerated grab, then the sound of the screaming reel during that zip code changing run that elevates both the heart rate and one’s soul. What can be better than that?